We are getting ready to do two of our favorite trips, bird photography in the bayous of Louisiana and from blinds in south Texas. Every year we fly south from our home in Alaska for a little warm weather bird photography during migration. For these trips I carry my 600mm F4, which brings up the familiar question of how to carry a 600mm F4 through the airports. I have two ways I carry my 600mm F4 depending on the trip.
Think Tank Airport Security. This rolling bag is built like a tank, and easily holds my 600mm F4 along with two bodies and extra lenses. In the photo above I have the 600mm F4, one Z9, one Z8, 100-400mm and the 24-70mm (on top of the 100-400mm). Plenty of room for cables beside the big lens. Depending on your specific lenses this bag will weigh 25-30 pounds filled with this gear. I often carry my laptop in a separate bag to keep the weight of the roller down. Sometimes I will also carry my 24-70mm in my computer bag or even stuff it in my luggage wrapped up in all my clothes. This roller will fit in standard overhead compartments on US flights, but sometimes will not fit in a small commuter jet overhead compartment. I have had this bag gate checked many times and never had my gear damaged. Remember, don’t carry your camera bodies attached to your lenses, I’ve seen multiple cameras get broken traveling this way. I may carry a small photo backpack in my suitcase to locations to carry my small lenses while I am using my 600mm F4.
Gura Gear 30L Kiboko. This is my go to bag for Africa (we go every year) for a couple of reasons. First, Africa often has strict weight restrictions on small planes, and this pack only weights 3.9 pounds empty, the lightest 30L photo pack I have ever found. This Gura Gear backpack has a split compartment design (see above) accessed from the back. This is great when you have a pack sitting in the seat next to you, very easy to access. In the photo above I have my Nikon Z 600mm F4, two Z9 bodies, 100-400mm and 24-70mm. I carry my laptop in a separate bag to keep the weight down. This bag easily fits in overhead compartments on standard jets and international flights…it even fits in overhead compartments on some of the commuter jets. In Africa I have to let the small plane crew load it onto the Cessna, but I have never had anything get broken.
There you have it. These are the two ways I carry my 600mm F4 when traveling. The roller is nice in airports since you don’t have all that gear on your back waiting in security lines. The pack is nice because you are ready to go when you hit your destination, just start hiking down the trail or jump into the Land Cruiser. Remember if you have to gate check your bag you will need to have your batteries out and in a carry on (I put mine in my laptop case and coat pockets). Happy travels!